Apparatus for forming gas



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. OLEGG. APPARATUS FOR FORMING GAS.

No. 606,189. Patented June Z8,1898.

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D. GLEGG- APPARATUS FOR FORMING GAS. N0. 606,189. Patented June 28, 1898.

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D. CLEGGA APPARATUS FOR FORMINGGAS.

No. 606,189.- g Patented June-28,1898.

ATENT Erica DAVID CLEGG', OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 606,189, dated June 28, 1898. l ii ion ma AngustIO, 1897. .Serial1l0.647,670. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID CLEGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,-

Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in apparatus for forming a gas from the combination of the products of combustion,exhaust-steam, and a certain amount of atmosphericair and re turning the same to the fire-box for the further support and the increase of combustion therein, of which the following is a specification. V l

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in method of and apparatus'for forming a gas from thecombination of the products of combustion,exhaust-steam, and a certain amount of atmospheric air and returning the. same to the lire-box for the further support and the increase of combustion therein. I

In a certain patent issued to me by the United States Patent Oflice upon the 26th day of November, 1889, and bearing Serial No. 415,959, a method is shown for burning the material passing through the tubes of the: boiler, such as smoke and cinders, by returning the same to the ash-pit and there forcing them through the fire-bed; but I have found by constant experiment that certain of these products may be so combined with exhaust-steam and atmospheric air as to form a combustible gas, and'while but few radical changes in the apparatus shown in the aforesaid patent are necessary to utilize my present method, yet these changes are essential to such use, since the construction and arrangement of this patented apparatus do not provide for the throwing off of. the inert air products of combustion, which prevent the production of fuel-gas, and thus in my former construction the only advantage gained was the consuming of the smoke and to prevent the cinders from leaving the smoke-stack.

In order'that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanyingIdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of a locomotive, showing my improvement applied for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

to the boiler and fire-box thereof; Fig. 2, a

section at the line 00 a; of Fig. 1, looking in "the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a section at the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section at the line a of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the application of my improvement to a stationary boiler of locomotive type, blower devices being provided for the creation of the proper draft, which corresponds to the forward motion of the locomotive. In carrying out my invention as embodied in'Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, A represents the boiler, through which pass the fire-tubes B in thefusual manner from the fire-box C to the smoke-chamber D, and this smoke-chamber instead of being of the ordinary extension construction is divided into three compartments E, F, and F, the last two being upon either side thereof and similar in all respects one with the other, so that the hereinafter description of one will serve to explain both.

The upper portion of the smoke-chamberhas a hood G covering the same, and within this hood issecured the deflecting baffle-plates H, The pipes J, which lead from the cylinders of the engine,have connected therewith the side pipe K, through which a portion or the entire exhaust from said cylinders may be led upward withinthe smoke-chamber, and should it be within' this chamber the remainder may be conveyed from the pipes J through any suitdesirable to use but a portion of the exhaust able passage-way and either be utilized for heating the train or the feed-water, or for any other desirable purpose. The stand-pipe has leading therefrom the nozzles L, the ends of ward, and the combined upflow of steam and p the products of combustion coming in contact with the baffle-plates II will be deflected and turned downward within the space formed by the inclined partitions M. Branch pipes N lead from the stand-pipe and extend into spaces formed by these inclined partitions and have attached thereto a series of nozzles 0, from which steam is projected in a downward direction, by which means an injector action is had within each of the spaces form ed by the inclined partitions, and thus the prod nets of combustion which have previously been commingled with the exhaust-steam is suing from the former nozzles are forced through the openings P between the inclined partitions and downward into the compartments F and F. This injector action upon the products of combustion and previouslycommingled steam tends to further mix the steam and products of combustion before forcing them into the compartments F and F, thereby causing the primary elements of the several compound gases to establish new eom.

binations,with the object in view of ultimately forming a combustible gas.

It has been found necessary in practice to combine with the products of combustion and exhaust-steam a certain amount of air prior to their being injected within the compartments 1 and F in order to further facilitate the recombinations just spoken of and add new elements thereto; but it is essential that the amount of air thus entering into this mixture shall be limited for the reason that when the vol 11 me is too great the effect thereof is to materially reduce the temperature of both the products of combustion and the exhaust-steam to such an extent as to retard and even prevent these recombinations, and thereby precipitate the steam in the shape of water, which must either be thrown out of the stack or deposited in the conduits and ashpit,'and this is the result in the construction shown in the aforesaid patent; but I here supply the proper amount of air by placing a semicircular partition Q above the baffleplates H in such manner as to form a space or passage-way R therebetween, and this passage-way leads downward in two directions and is reduced in cross-section, as indicated at R, and the outlet from these branches of this passage is located immediately above the series of nozzles, so that the airissuing therefrom will be drawn into the admixture of the V products of combustion and exhaust-steam and forced therewith through the openings P. Air is supplied to the passage R through the funnel-shaped opening S, in which may be placed a screen '1 for preventing the ingress of foreign substances of a size likely to the nozzles O as well as the products of combustion, which at this point are forced downward through the openings P.

The combination of the products of combustion, exhauststeam, and air, which is forced within the compartments F and F, as just described, will pass downward through said compartments and into the conduit U, which communicates therewith and extends rearward to the ash-pit V, from whence, if other conditions are right, they would be fed through the grate-bars to the fire-bed, and in passing through this fire-bed, which should then be in active condition, will be sufliciently raised in temperature to complete the chemical union of the constituent elements forming the combination and thereby produce a combustible gas, which, when passing from the upper surface of the fire-bed, will beignited and burn with intense heat,and this heat added to the heat given off from the combustion taking place in the fire-bed proper will intensify the action within the fire-box and tubes of the boiler and thereby increase its steaming capacity. Now it has been found by experiment and practice that under certain conditions a greater volume of air must commingle with the exhaust-steam and prodnets of combustion than Will be added thereto by the passages R and that this air must be added to the combination after the first combination has taken place, because were the full volume of air ultimately needed added to the combination at the point where the steam was injected therein this steam, as before stated, would be chilled, and consequently condensed to such an extent as to cause its precipitation in the form of water in the conduits of the apparatus. The prime reason for the addition of a certain volume of air to the combination of gases after reaching the compartments F and F is that the composition of the fuel in the fire-box' must be supported, for which purpose a sufficient supply of atmospheric air must be fed thereto, and when admitted to the combination of gases passing to the compartments F and F the surplus air will not chemically combine with these products and therefore when reaching the fire-bed enough thereof will be utilized for the support of the combustion, while the remainder of the eommingled gases will be chemically,united to form a combustible gas which will burn above the surface of the fire-bed, as before stated. Now to supply this extra amount of air and to regulate the supply thereof to the requirements of the varying conditions of both the combustion in the fire-box and the necessities of the boiler I arrange a series of slats W in the front of the compartment F and a similar series XV in the front of the compartment F, and these slats are connected by a red X, through which they may be moved in unison and, as is obvious, when so moved may give substantially the entire opening to the compartments or may vary this opening as they are more or less closed, and another object of this particular construction is that when the slats are set at an angle, such'as shown in Fig. 3, the infiowing air will be deflected downward and thereby given a certain amount of forcewhich will create a pressure within the compartments-as well as in the conduit and ash-pit, thus acting after the manner of a forced draft. A further slat X of each of the series is extended inward somewhat wider than the other slats, the object of which is to utilize it as a valve for closing the opening P, which, as is shown in dotted lines, will be accomplished when the series of slats is turned to a horizontal position.

The movement of the slats is effected by a rod Z, connecting the arm a with the arm I), and this last-narned arm is secured upon the short shaft d, which is journaled in the combined intake and outlet f. This intake is located upon the top of the hood G and communicates therewith, while its upper end is open as well as the front thereof, which latter is covered with a screen g, so as to protect the apparatus against the ingress of objectionable material, and the deflector-plate h is secured upon the shaft d, so that when the rod Z is operated to move the slats WV'this deflectorplate will also be moved in unison therewith.

An oscillating rod t is properly journaled and has a short arm j secured thereon which is attached to the rod Z, so as to transmit motion to said rod when the oscillating rod is operated, and this is accomplished by a short arm It, having attached thereto the rod Z, which extends rearward to the cab of the 10*- comotive and may be there attached to a hand-lever on within easy reach of the engineer. A passage-way n of relatively large dimensions is formed by the top of the hood and the partition Q, and with this passageway the intake f communicates, so that there may be either a downward flow through the intake and passage-way or an upflow through said passage-way and said intake, which latter will then serve as an outlet, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improvement will be as follows: The slats W' being set at an angle (shown infull lines in Fig. 3) and a deflector-plate h thereby being also set at an angle, while the ash-pit is sealed therein to the'conduit U, it being understood that the locomotive is in motion, the exhaust from said locomotive will move the products of combustion upward through the compartment E,as before described, and these products, mingled with the exhaust-steam, will be deflected by the deflector-plates H, and when coming within the field of action of the injector-nozzles 0 will be driven downward through the passages T; but prior to this lastnained action the air flowing through the passage R and the branches R thereof will be commingled with the combined products of combustion and exhaust-steam to the 'extent that these products will absorb or combine with said air, and after this combined gas reaches the compartments F F they'will flow downward and have a further supply of air added thereto through the slats W W, which when set at the proper angle will also give a further force to the downward movement of the gases, thereby forcing said gases through the conduit U to the ash-pit, from whence they will be driven through the gratebars and fire-bed, the surplus air in the combination serving to support the combustion of the fuel composing the fire-bed, while the heat imparted to the combined gases in their passage through the fire will unite them chemically in the proper proportions to form a fuel-gas, which'when issuing from the upper surface of the fire-bed will be ignited and burn with an intense gaseous flame. Now the products of the combined combustion of the fuel composing the fire-bed and the fuel-gas passing therethrough will be led through the fire-tubes of the boiler and again enter the compartment E, from whence they of necessity must again pass upward through this compartment and be deflected by the baffle-plates H; but here a compound action takes place in which the exh aust-steamand certain parts of the products of combustion, as well as the air in flowing through the passages R, are united,

while the inert and non-combustible products scribed, will be flowing upward through said passages, the last named escaping at the rear of the deflector-plate while the air is'admitted at the front thereof, and it has been found by experiment that this peculiar arrangement creates a back pressure both in the tubes of the boiler and the fire-box. Nevertheless the differential pressure between the downflowing air and gases in the compartments F F and the air in the passages 11 will permit a positive draft to take place through the gratebars and fire-bed, and thus continue the action above described. Another result of this back pressure just spoken of created within the tubes, and consequently the fire-box, is to prevent a violent draft through the tubes and undue agitation of the upper surface of the fire-bed, and thus prevent the driving of partially or unconsumed particles of fuel, which are known as hot cinders, through the tubes and out of the smoke-stack, thus saving much fuel which is now wasted in'a locomotive as ordinarily operated and avoiding the serious danger which constantly menaces property by which locomotives pass.

\Vh'en a fire is to be started, the operations are similar to the method now followed for accomplishing the same result in the locomotive, and the changes necessary in the adj ustment of the mechanism of the apparatus under the control of the engineer and fireman consist in the movement of the slats IV IV to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which will result in the closing of the openings P by the slats X, and this movement, which is brought about by the lever m, as before described, will also bring the deflectorplate to a vertical position, as also shown in Fig. 3. This adjustment, as is obvious, will cut off the downflowing of air and gases through the injector-openings P and permit such gases only to pass upward through the passage ways n and give to the outlet f its full capacity for the outflowing of these gases after the manner of the ordinary smoke-stack locomotive. Now as this arrangement would cut off or limit the forced draft through the grate-bars it is preferable that the lower end of the conduitU be sealed, while the front portion of the ash-pit be open to emit draft in the usual manner, and this I accomplish by placing a hinged door q in the lower end of the conduit and a similar door 7' at the front of the ash-pit, which doors are connect-ed by suitable levers and rods, and a hand-lever tis connected by a rod to to the door 1" for its manipulation. As is clear from the arrangement of levers shown in Fig. 1, the closing of this door will open the door q, and vice versa. WVhen the apparatus has been adjusted to establish an ordinary draft and cut out the action of the combination, the fire-box door may then be opened and fuel fed and the fire attendedin the usual manner, and after this fire has reached the proper condition the combination may be readjusted by the operation of the levers m and t and the formation of fuel-gas from the products of combustion, exhaust-steam, and intaken air put into action and the same utilized for the generation of heat within the fire-box.

In practice it has been found that a tendency exists under certain conditions for explosive gases to accumulate immediately beneath the baffie-plates H, and it has therefore been found essential that an opening controlled by a door '0 be provided at this point and be under the control of the engineer by suitable rods and levers in order that he may relieve this portion of the apparatus of this gas when occasion requires, since by the opening of the door 0; air will be forced in at this point and, while diluting the gases there accumulated, will also tend to drive the same with greater force downward to the compartments F F and in so doing convey them to the ash pit, from whence they will pass through the fire-bed and be utilized, as before described.

I prefer that the front wall of the compartment E be V-shaped in cross-section, as indicated at w, in order that the least amount of resistance shall be formed at this point by the air to the forward motion of the locomotivc.

In the arrangement in Fig. 5 I have illustrated a method of applying my improvements to a stationary boiler, and for convenience have here shown this boiler to be of the loco motive type, and therefore all the apparatus above described applies directly to this boiler, the only additions being that of the casing to, which incloses the front of the extension of the blower 10 connected by the pipe 20 with said casing, so as to bring about the same results by a forced draft in the front of the boiler as is established by the forward motion of the locomotive; but it is obvious that my improvement may be applied to any type of stationary boiler by the proper construction of the detail parts thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is- 1. In combination, a boiler, a fire-box connected therewith, an extension formed with the boiler having three compartments therein, adjustable slats formed in the fronts of the two side compartments, a baffle-plate above the compartments, a semicircular partition above the baffle-plate, whereby a passage is formed therebetween, said passage leading downwardly in two directions to the side compartments, a stand-pipe arranged in the central compartments having nozzles directing the steam upwardly against the battle-plate, arms projecting from the top of the standpipe having nozzles directing the steam downwardly through the side compartments, a conduit leading from the side compartments to the fire-box, a passage-way for the escape of non-combustible material and a deflectorplate in said passage-way, and means for operating the deflector-plate and slats in conjunction with each other, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a boiler having tubes or fines in connection therewith and a fire-box, compartments arranged in the front of the boiler, a baffie-plate arranged over said compartments to direct the products of combustion downwardly, pipes conveying exhaust-steam to said compartments, passages conveying atmospheric air and discharging it simultaneously with the steam, and means for admitting and regulating the flow of air to the compartments after the mixing of the steam, air and products of combustion, and a passage leading from the compartments to the fire-box, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for forming a gas from the combination of the products of combustion, exhaust-steam and a certain amount of atmospheric air and returning the same to the fire-box for the further support and increase of combustion therein, a fire-boX, a boiler, tubes or flues in connection therewith,a sealed ash-pit, compartments formed in front of the boiler and connected with the tubes, a standpipe leading from the exhaust, nozzles connected therewith for combining steam with the products of combustion and forcing the combination upward,baffle-plates for deflecting the gases, injectors consisting of steamnozzles for driving the combined gases downward, means for feeding air to the combination at this point, means for admitting more or less air to the combination thereafter, a conduit for conveying the combined gases to the ash-pit, and suitable dampers and levers for regulating the inflow of air and outflow of inert gases, as specified.

4. The herein-described combination of a sealed fire-box, a sealed ash-pit, a boiler, tubes or dues for conveying the products of combustion from the fire-box, an extension secured to the opposite end of the boiler, compartments formed in said extension, a standpipe leading from the exhaust and located within one of the compartments, nozzles lead ing from said stand-pipe-for driving the products of combustion upward and commingling steam therewith, baffle-plates for deflecting said gases downward, passages for admitting atmospheric air at this point, steam-nozzles also connected with the stand-pipe for admitting more steam to the combination and injecting the combined gases downward, slats admitting a further quantity of atmospheric air, a conduit for conveying the combined gases to the ash-pit, a passage-way for permitting the non-combustible elements to escape, a defiector-platefor bringing about an inflowing of air while permitting the outflow of the non-combustible elements, and means for regulating the action of the apparatus, substantially as shown and described.

5. In combinatiomaboiler, a sealed firebox connected therewith, a sealed ash-pit beneath the fire-box, suitable tubes or flues for leading the products of combustion from the fire-box, an extension formed with the boiler having therein three compartments, means for admitting steam to the central compart ment, baffle-plates for deflecting the steam and products of combustion downward, means for admitting air at this point, means for admitting more steam to the combination and injecting the same within the remaining compartments of the extension, means for forcing atmospheric air within the apparatus at various points, and means for permitting the escape of non-combustible elements, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An apparatus for forming gas and returning it to the fire-box consisting of a boiler, tubes or flues, a fire-box, compartments formed at the front of the boiler, baffle-plates for directing the products of combustion downwardly, pipes conveying exhaust-steam and discharging it downwardly above the comscribing witnesses.

DAVID OLEGG.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMsoN, SAMUEL L. TAYLOR. 

